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C. E. MILLER 8v P. M. HAAS. GAR GOUPLING.

No. 499,639 Patented June 13,1893.-

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C. E. MILLER & P. M. HAAS.

OAR COUPLING.

190.499,63). Patented June 13, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MILLER AND PHILIP M; HAAS, OE YOUNes'rowN, OHIO; SAID HAAS AssIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO SAID MILLER AND JOHN MILLER,

OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 499,639, dated June 13, 1893.

Application fledJ'nly 11,1892. Serial No. 439,697. (No model.)

- To all whom t may concern/:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. MILLER and PHILIP M. HAAS, of Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX'- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplers wherein a pair of pivoted jaws is employed for grasping the coupling-bolt or link; and our invention consists,frst, in securing the two jaws by means of a pivotal pin in common and centrally widthwise of the draw-bar, whereby when a car goes around a curve is avoided the exertion of more pull ordraft on the onejaw than on the other, cramping of the head of the bolt or link, and an unequal or varying strain on the spring employed for retaining the jaws closed.

Our invention consists, further, in certain features of construction whereby the jaws are adapted to hold the coupling-link or bolt in any position, and hence enabling the operator, in the coupling of cars, to adjust the coupling-bolt or link and get out from between the cars before they come together.

Our invention consists moreover in the mechanism employed for opening the jaws, in uncoupling cars, without necessitating the operator to go between the cars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved car-coupler and attachments, partly in section, portions of the draw-head being broken away to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a front elevation showing the mechanism employed for opening the jaws of the car-coupler.

Referring to the drawings, A and A represent, respectively, top and bottom walls of the draw-bar, and A2 the head of the same.

AS represents the chamber of the draw-bar, the same being open at the sides, and the head of the draw-bar has a central Opening, a, for

Alink B.

Within chamber A3 and centrally of the same is pivoted a pair of oppositely disposed jaws, C, the jaws being halved together at this part, as at O', and secured to the draw-bar by means of a single pivotal pin, O2, the latter passing freely through the jaws. Jaws O, on their opposing faces, are recessed, as at C3, the front wall of the recess being preferably somewhat undercut as at O4. Jaws C have respectively, an arm or member, C5, extending rearward of the pivotal pin between which rearwardly-extending arms or members is interposed a spring, D, preferably a coil-spring, that is mounted on inwardly-projecting lugs C of the respective jaws and is adapted to act in the direction to close the jaws, whereby, upon the entrance of a coupling-bolt or link B between the jaws the latter will spring apart to receive and cause the head of the coupling-bolt or link to be grasped within recesses O3 of the jaws, the heads of the coupling-bolt or link, at their inner ends, being undercut, as at B2 to correspond to the undercut forward walls of recesses O3. Opening a in the front wall of the headA2 of the coupleris sufficiently large to permit the tilting of the coupling-bolt or link vertically or laterally, or both, as required, to accommodate sligh variations in the position of opposing coupl rs, and the forward ends of the jaws are rounded, as at O7, so as not to interfere with the lateral tilting of the coupling link or bolt.

The advantages of our improved car-coupler, it is believed, will be readily understood. Grasping-jaws C being secured by the same pivotal pin, with the latter located centrally of the draw-bar, no matter how sharp the curve around which the cars pass, a straight pull on both jaws will always be exerted-the pull is not all on one jaw, but is equally divided between the two jaws, and cramping of the head of the coupling-bolt Or link is avoided. The jaws being halved together as hereinbefore described with the pivotal pin passing freely through the jaws, the latter swing freely on their pivot, affording a very easy motion, and there is no cramping of or uneven or varying strain brought to bear upon spring D.

Another important feature of our improved construction of car-coupler, consists in that the grasping-jaws will hold the coupling-link or bolt in any position in which it is placed. The operator does not need to guide the sam e, as in the ordinary coupler, but he can, in coupling, adjust the bolt or link and get out from between the cars before they come together.

Referring again to the drawings, jaws C at or near their forward ends, have, respectively,

a laterally-projecting vertically-perforated lug or ear, C8, and E represents bolts or pins ears Cs and are secured in position by means of nuts e mounted on the upper end thereof, said bolts or pins at their lower ends being provided, respectively, with a fork, E', between the members whereof are pivoted, as at f,the outer ends of the arms of a toggle F. The one arm of the toggle is extended laterally of the coupler, as at F', and terminates, at or near the side of the car, (G representing the end of a car) in a handle F2. To member F of the toggle is also pivoted the lower end of an upright rod or bar, F3, that is designed to extend upward through a guide-strap H secured to the car, and terminates, at its upper end, in a head, F4. Toggle F is tripped (as shown) in the closed or normal position of jaws C; hence said jaws are opened to release the coupling-link by actuating toggle F in the direction to straighten it, and by the construction hereinbefore described, this can be effeeted either from the side of the car by tak ing hold of handle F2 and depressing the same, or from the top of the car by applying the foot to head F4 of upwardly-extending rod or bar F3; the operator, in either case, not being obliged to go between the cars. We would also remark that the top and bottom walls of the draw-bar, centrally and at or near the forward end thereof are preferably vertically perforated, as at ot', (see Figs. l and 2) for the passage of the coupling-pin in coupling a car, provided with our improved coupler, to a car having the common link-and-pin coupler, and in this case, it will be observed that by means of our improved arrangement and construction of jaws the latter would hold the link and guide the same as desired into the opposing coupler.

What we claim is- 1. The combination with the top and bottom Walls of a draw head, of a pair of jaws pivoted between said top andv bottom walls, aspring bearing outwardly against the rear ends of the jaws, a hand lever pivoted at or near the outer end of one of the pivoted jaws, and a link connecting one end of this lever with the other jaw, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the top and bottoni walls of a draw head, of a pair of jaws pivoted between said top and bottom walls, a spring interposed between the rear ends of the jaws, a horizontal lever pivoted toene jaw, said lever having a handle on its outer end, a link connecting its opposite end with the other jaw, and a slide bar having a foot tread thereon, said bar connected with the horizontal lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of May, 1892.

CHARLES E. MILLER. PHILIP M. HAAS. Witnesses:

EMERY F. LYNN, LEWIS S. CRUM. 

